National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET)

What National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET) does

NSET is a Nepal-based nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Lalitpur (Kathmandu Valley), focused exclusively on earthquake risk management and disaster resilience. The organization delivers seismic vulnerability assessments of buildings and infrastructure, building code implementation support for municipalities, training of masons and engineers in earthquake-resistant construction, and structured school and hospital safety programs. Its primary constituents are federal, provincial, and local government agencies, municipalities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and communities across Nepal, with secondary programmatic reach into South and Southeast Asia including Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and Iran.

The organization's core program portfolio includes the School Earthquake Safety Program (SESP), Disaster Preparedness for Safer Schools (DPSS), Nepal Earthquake Risk Management Program (NERMP/NERMP 2), Technical Support for Building Code Implementation in Nepal (TSBCIN) covering 30 municipalities, the Nepal Safer Schools Project (NSSP) targeting approximately 250 schools, the USAID-funded Baliyo Ghar housing reconstruction program, and the Tomorrow's Cities urban disaster risk research hub. Supporting tools include shake table demonstrations, the Earthquake Mobile Clinic, the Friday Free Earthquake Clinic, and the DesInventar-based Disaster Information Management System. Notable technical outputs include the seismic vulnerability assessment of 14 major hospitals jointly developed with WHO, 192,000 building-level assessments under the 3PERM program following the Gorkha Earthquake 2015, and 635 masons trained in earthquake-resistant construction techniques.

NSET is funded through project-based grants from international development institutions, led by USAID/OFDA (continuous funder since 1997), DfID/FCDO, the World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, and the European Commission's ECHO/DIPECHO, complemented by technical partnerships with USGS, Kyoto University DPRI, the University of Edinburgh, Durham University, GeoHazards International, ADPC, the American Red Cross, and the Nepal Red Cross Society. The organization holds an International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) endorsement from the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) program, is a member of ADRRN, GNDR, CITYNET, and DPNet, and was selected to host the 9th Asia Conference on Earthquake Engineering (9ACEE) in Kathmandu in May 2026.

Name

National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET)

Legal name

National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET)

Website

https://nset.org.np

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NSET is a Nepal-based nonprofit, founded in 1993, that delivers seismic vulnerability assessments, building code implementation support, and earthquake safety programs for governments, municipalities, schools, hospitals, and communities across Nepal and South Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disaster Risk Management Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR) (BPAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA), Emergency Management & National Resilience (Civil Protection) (BPAIAAAI), Emergency Management & Incident Command (EOC/ICS) (EDALAEAD), Disaster Response Coordination & Incident Command (EOC/ICS) (HLAJAGAB)

Keywords

• Earthquake risk management
• Disaster preparedness services
• Seismic vulnerability assessment
• Building code implementation
• School safety programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lalitpur

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NSET is a Nepal-based nonprofit organization that delivers earthquake risk management and disaster preparedness services. Its core offerings include seismic vulnerability assessments of buildings, schools, and hospitals; earthquake-resistant construction training for masons and engineers; school and hospital safety program implementation; building code technical assistance to municipalities; and community-based disaster preparedness programs. These services are delivered through donor-funded projects in partnership with government agencies, international NGOs, and academic institutions across Nepal and South Asia.

Product overview

National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET) is a non-profit organization focused on earthquake risk management and disaster preparedness. NSET does not offer a unified software product but rather delivers a portfolio of programs and services including the School Earthquake Safety Program (SESP), Disaster Preparedness for Safer Schools (DPSS), Nepal Earthquake Risk Management Program (NERMP/ NERMP 2), Technical Support for Building Code Implementation (TSBCIN), Nepal Safer Schools Project (NSSP), Technical Support for Resilient Community (TESREC), and the Tomorrow's Cities research program. These programs are complemented by training services such as mason training, shake table demonstrations, earthquake mobile clinics, and vulnerability assessment services for schools, hospitals, and municipalities. NSET also conducts international programs in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, and India. The organization serves government agencies, municipalities, schools, and communities across Nepal to enhance earthquake safety and disaster resilience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School Earthquake Safety Programme (SESP) Program to identify and implement measures to reduce vulnerability of school buildings through seismic retrofitting or earthquake-resistant reconstruction, raise awareness of earthquake risks, and train local masons on earthquake-resistant building construction technology. Includes three inter-knit components: training of masons, training of teachers/parents/students on earthquake preparedness, and seismic retrofit or earthquake-resistant reconstruction. Has been implemented in 42+ schools across Nepal since 1999, demonstrating technical, economical, political and socio-cultural feasibilities for about 300 public schools.
• Disaster Preparedness for Safer Schools (DPSS) Multi-hazard disaster preparedness program implemented in schools focusing on training curricula development, school-based disaster preparedness training, first aid, search and rescue, and community awareness campaigns. Implemented in 50 schools across Bhaktapur and Nuwakot districts, benefiting 8,402 people directly.
• Technical Support for Building Code Implementation in Nepal (TSBCIN) Program providing technical support to 30 municipalities across 7 provinces of Nepal to implement the National Building Code (NBC), enhancing capacities for improved seismic performance of all new building construction through awareness, capacity building, institutionalization, and networking. Includes training programs, licensing systems for builders and masons, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Nepal Safer Schools Project (NSSP) DfID-funded project implemented by NSET as part of a consortium with Crown Agents, Save the Children, and Arup International to increase safety of approximately 250 vulnerable schools in Nepal through seismically-resilient retrofitting and rebuilding, disaster management, and resilient education in four districts in Far- and Mid-West Nepal.
• Nepal Earthquake Risk Management Program Stage II (NERMP 2) Program focused on proliferation of earthquake disaster risk reduction in Nepal through scaling up successes, institutionalization of approaches, methodologies, policy advancement, and training curricula in collaboration with government agencies. Funded by USAID/OFDA.
• Technical Support for Resilient Community (TESREC) - My Village is Resilient Program 'My Village is Resilient' implemented in 7 Rural Municipalities focusing on establishing framework for safer building construction and developing model disaster-resilient communities through building regulations, multi-hazard risk assessment, and emergency preparedness. Funded by USAID/BHA.
• Tomorrow's Cities UKRI GCRF Urban Disaster Risk Hub research program to reduce disaster risk for the poor in cities through multi-hazard risk-informed planning and decision-making, implementing the Tomorrow's Cities Decision Support Environment (TCDSE) in Kathmandu and Rapti Valley. NSET is an international team member with University of Edinburgh as grant holder.
• Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Major Hospitals of Nepal Comprehensive seismic vulnerability assessment of 14 major hospitals of Nepal including structural and non-structural vulnerability evaluation and mitigation planning. Developed jointly with WHO, which published joint guidelines for seismic vulnerability assessment of hospitals.
• Baliyo Ghar USAID-funded five-year program providing technical assistance for earthquake-resistant reconstruction of houses in 14 quake-most-affected districts through trained masons, engineers, and Reconstruction Technology Centers. Implemented in 4 districts.
• Nepal Gujarat Mason Exchange and Training Program (NGMET) Program where Nepalese masons trained by NSET in earthquake-resistant construction provided hands-on training to Gujrati masons in India for post-earthquake reconstruction in Gujarat.
• Earthquake Contingency Planning and Full-Scale Simulation Exercise Support for Bhutan Technical support to the Government of Bhutan for earthquake contingency planning and full-scale simulation exercises, supported by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• Nepal Earthquake Professionals Training and Earthquake Hazard Reduction Collaboration with USGS to establish a nationwide grid of seismometric devices (accelerometers and geophones), develop computer programs for seismic data processing, and monitor earthquake ground motion data for engineering purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,402 people directly benefited from DPSS disaster preparedness activities
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET works with CDRI on Earthquake Contingency Planning and Full-Scale Simulation Exercise Support for the Government of Bhutan. CDRI is a key international partnership for promoting disaster-resilient infrastructure.
• Global Network of Civil Society Organisations (GNDR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET is implementing Views from Frontline (VFL) program supported by GNDR. GNDR is the largest independent global review of disaster risk reduction at local level.
• Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET is a member of ADRRN and implementing regional programs including Promoting Seismic Resilience of Marginalized Communities in ADRRN Member Countries.
• United States Geological Survey (USGS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET collaborates with USGS on seismic hazard assessment and risk mitigation capabilities development in Nepal, including establishing nationwide grid of seismometric devices.
• Welthungerhilfe (WHH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHH supports NSET's School Project Jajarkot for reconstruction of earthquake-resistant and eco-friendly schools using interlocking compressed stabilized earth bricks.
• Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET is listed among major programs as a partner in NEAR network for disaster risk management.
• GeoHazards International (GHI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHI partners with NSET on mason and engineering professional training in Dadeldhura District on earthquake resistant construction and retrofit.
• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Red Cross provides funding and support for School Earthquake Safety Program and Disaster Preparedness for Safer Schools programs.
• Crown AgentsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrown Agents leads the Nepal Safer Schools Project consortium with NSET, Save the Children, and Arup International.
• Save the ChildrenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the NSSP consortium implementing school safety programs in Nepal.
• Arup InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides international best practices guidance for safer learning facilities in NSSP consortium.
• Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRCS is a key implementing partner for Disaster Preparedness for Safer Schools (DPSS) programs.
• University of EdinburghmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant holder for Tomorrow's Cities Urban Disaster Risk Hub; NSET contributes as international team member.
• NERC/Durham UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET is a consortium member for Sajag-Nepal project led by Durham University for multi-hazard and systemic risk research.
• IOM NepalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOM leads the DRM Localization Training project with NSET as consortium lead for implementation.
• Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADPC partners with NSET on Building Code Implementation Program and PEER training programs for emergency response.
• ActionAid NepalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActionAid partners with NSET on hospital disaster preparedness and comprehensive risk assessment programs.
• Handicap International (HI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHI partners on accessibility aspects in hospital disaster preparedness programs.
• WHOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO collaborated with NSET on seismic vulnerability assessment of 14 major hospitals and published joint guidelines.
• World Bank IndonesiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Bank Indonesia partnered with NSET for shake table demonstration in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
• Building Research Institute (BRI) JapanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRI Japan supports NSET research on stone masonry buildings and provides technical assistance for shake table demonstrations.
• JICA PakistanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJICA Pakistan partnered with NSET for shake table demonstration of PP Band technology in earthquake-affected areas.
• Thimpu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project partnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStandards & Quality Control Authority, Ministry of Works and Human Settlement, Royal Government of Bhutan.
• Latin American Network of Social Studies on Disaster Prevention (LARED)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped DesInventar methodology used by NSET for disaster inventory management.
• Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) Kyoto UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPRI of Kyoto University partnered with NSET for Case Station and Field Campus (CASIFICA) establishment.
• Kathmandu University (KU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKU partners with NSET on joint researches and implementation under CASIFICA framework.
• DAI Global, LLCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAI issues grants under USAID's Tayar Nepal project for scaling up seismic retrofitting through NSET.
• Provincial Infrastructure Development Authority (PIDA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIDA of Lumbini Province collaborates with NSET for Tomorrow's Cities project in Rapti Valley.
• International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) - IRDRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET is an International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) endorsed by Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR).
• Core Humanitarian Standard Alliance (CHS Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSET is a member of CHS Alliance for humanitarian standards.
• Lutheran World Federation (LWF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLWF partners on DIPECHO projects and community-based disaster management programs.
• Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNSET works under overall guidance of DUDBC for building code implementation programs.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Build Change: International nonprofit engineering resilient houses, schools, and apartments in seismically vulnerable countries. Highly comparable to NSET's retrofitting, mason training, and reconstruction work, including a similar donor base and emerging-market operating model.
• Practical Action: International development NGO headquartered in the UK with strong South Asia footprint on disaster resilience, building technology, and community-based DRR. Comparable mission and South Asian operational geography to NSET.
• Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC): Regional capacity-building center delivering disaster risk management and emergency response training across Asia. Overlaps with NSET on Building Code Implementation and PEER training programs, and both operate as institutional DRR specialists serving government clients.
• Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS): Nepal's national humanitarian organization and listed NSET partner for Disaster Preparedness for Safer Schools. Comparable as a disaster preparedness implementer with overlapping school safety and community DRR programs.
• Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH): Operates in Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and other mountainous, seismically active regions focusing on habitat safety, DRR, and resilient infrastructure. Comparable to NSET in mountainous Asia focus and community-based disaster risk management.
• GeoHazards International: US-based nonprofit focused on reducing earthquake risk in schools, hospitals, and communities across Asia and Latin America. Directly comparable to NSET as a seismic vulnerability specialist working with mason training, school safety, and hospital preparedness — and a listed NSET partner.
• Miyamoto International: Engineering and policy consulting firm specializing in earthquake-resilient design and post-disaster reconstruction. Comparable to NSET's structural vulnerability assessment practice and operates in overlapping geographies including Indonesia and Haiti.

Broad incumbents

• SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC): Intergovernmental body coordinating disaster management across South Asian countries. Comparable as the regional policy-level counterpart for the kinds of cross-border DRR advisory services NSET can provide.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nepal: UN agency funding disaster risk management programs in Nepal, including direct work with NSET. Comparable as a major institutional player in Nepal DRR but at much larger scale and broader mandate.

Regional players

• Centre for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) Pakistan: Pakistani NGO focused on community-based disaster risk management and earthquake preparedness. Comparable to NSET as a South Asian national-level DRR NGO but operating primarily in Pakistan rather than Nepal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NSETNepal1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NSETInfoChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/NSET2020
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-society-for-earthquake-technology---nepal-nset-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET)